WRITTEN FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS AT NEW HAVEN, AND SUPPOSED TO BE SUNG ON THE SPOT WHERE THEY
HELD THEIR FIRST SABBATH WORSHIP.
HERE then, beneath the green-wood shade,
The pilgrim first his altar made!
'T was here, amid the mingled throng,
First breathed the prayer, and woke the song!
The same low sounds are in our ears,
Which echoed in those early years;
"T was this same wave, with gentle reach,
Came rippling up the shingled beach.
The sun which lends its gladness now,
Lay bright upon the pilgrim's brow;
And this same wind, here breathing free,
Curled round his honor'd head in glee.
How peaceful smiled that Sabbath sun!
How holy was that day begun!-
When here, amid the dark woods dim,
Went up the pilgrim's first low hymn!
Hush'd was the stormy forest's roar,
The forest eagle scream'd no more;
And far along the blue wave's side,
The billow murmur'd where it died.
The
young bird cradled by its nest,
Its matin symphony repress'd;
And nothing broke the stillness there,
Save the low hymn, or humbler prayer.
The red man, as the blue wave broke
Before his dipping paddle's stroke,
Paused, and hung list'ning on his oar,
As the hymn came from off the shore.
Look now upon the same still scene!
The wave is blue, the turf is green;
But where are now the wood, and wild-
The pilgrim, and the forest child?
The wood and wild have pass'd away;
Pilgrim and forest child are clay;
And here, upon their graves, we stand,
The children of that Christian band!
And lo! our goodly heritage
A busy scene, a prosperous age;
Here Commerce spreads her whited wings,(12) And Art, amid her labor, sings.
Far as the spreading gaze is given-
A fruitful soil, a glowing heaven!
Contentment all the valley fills,
While Peace is piping from the hills.
And here, where hearth nor home might bless, Once, in the woody wilderness;
Young Love, like Spring, now decks the year, And Sharon's sweetest rose is here.
Soft voices wake the streets all day,
And smiling looks, and hearts as gay;
And sweeter than the breath of birds,
Childhood's light laugh, and half-lisp'd words.
Law, Justice, Love, here meet as one,
Here Art and Science hail their son ;(13)
Here Faith secures her sacrifice,
And Hope stands gazing on the skies.
Then while upon this spot we stand,
The children of that Christian band;
Be ours the thoughts we owe this day,
To our great fathers pass'd away!
By prayer and contemplation led,
Be ours by their brave spirits fed!
Be ours their efforts and their aim―
Their truth, their glory, and their name!
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